News Cow News

Winfield Police warn of local credit card scam

The Winfield Police Department received numerous calls Friday evening regarding recorded messages asking about a Visa credit card.

This is a scam. Please do not give any personal information over the telephone.

The department is aware of the situation and reminds residents not to give out personal information over the phone.

Winfielder cited after a minor injury accident

Amos Bloyer, Winfield, was cited after he ran a red light at Summit and Wal Mart streets in Arkansas City Thursday morning and struck another vehicle driven by Janie Voorhis, Oklahoma.

Voorhis was treated at South Central Kansas Regional Medical Center and then released.

Neither Bloyer or the passengers in his car was injured. Bloyer was cited for running a red light, according to the Ark City Police Department.

Columbus Day closing banks, federal offices

Federal offices, banks and post offices will be closed Monday in observance of Columbus Day.

Cowley�County District Court offices in both� Ark City and Winfield will be closed.

Winfield and Arkansas City,and�Cowley County offices will be open. Winfield employees opted to take the Friday after Thanksgiving off instead of Columbus Day while county employees traded the day after Christmas.

Candidates to appear at forum in AC tonight

Candidates for local office will participate in a public forum at 7 tonight in the Ark City High School auditorium.

The local Optimists Club and USD 470 are hosting the event as part of the Kids Voting Kansas program students in the district are participating in.

Both organizations said they wanted to provide an educational experience for the kids while also providing an opportunity for the community to get informed about candidates on the local level. The high school�s advanced debate students have prepared questions for the candidates and will moderate the event. Members of the public are also invited to submit questions for the debate students to ask.

Johnson waives right to preliminary hearing

A 20-year-old Winfield man accused of forcibly raping an underage girl has waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Cowley County District Court in Winfield.

Jeremiah Johnson is to return to court for arraignment at 2 p.m. Nov. 17. He remains free on bond.

A preliminary hearing is available to a person charged with a felony to determine if there is enough evidence to hold the person for trial. An arraignment is when the charge is read and a defendant is asked how he or she pleads.

September divorce filings for Cowley County

Divorces and annulments granted in Cowley County District Court during September 2008 included:

Abby G. Fischer and Carl H. Fischer

Anton Bering Busch III and Jenny Lynn Busch

Local cop's keen eye leads to robbery arrest

Winfield Police Patrolman Greg Venable was catching up with E-mail after a couple days off when a photo of an armed robbery suspect, being sought by police in Mulvane, caught his attention.

�I thought, 'holy crap, that's the guy I just arrested,'� he said. �I knew it was him immediately.�

Venable had pulled over Adam Cross, 30, on Sept. 30 in Winfield following a report of a burglary in progress. There was no burglary, but Venable pulled over Cross and found the man was wanted on a felony warrant out of Sumner County.

Rape suspect appears in court for hearing

A Wichita man accused of raping a Winfield woman last month was back in Cowley County District Court Monday.

A preliminary hearing was set for 9 a.m. Oct. 17 for Omar Salvador Castillo-Fernandez. The 29-year-old man remains in the Cowley County jail in lieu of $9,800. The 25-year-old alleged rape victim told police that Fernandez raped her at a private residence in Winfield in September. Fernandez is also charged with driving without a license.

Ark City teens arrested for stealing from stores

Two Arkansas City teenagers were arrested by Ponca City police Monday evening for stealing from four stores, according to a spokeswoman for the Ponca City Police Department.

The 17-year-old girls, whose names were not released because of their ages, were in The Buckle, a clothing store, when police were called. Police believe the girls also stole from Maurice's, Goodys and Payless.

They were each charged with possession of stolen property and four counts of petty larceny. Only one of the crimes is a felony. The girls were released in the custody of their parents and will be referred to the Kay County Office of Juvenile Affairs.

Jump Start suspect to be back in court soon

A preliminary hearing has been set for Oct. 28 for a Wichita man charged with attempted first degree murder in connection with a shooting at the Jump Start convenience store on Main Street in Winfield.

Robert L. White, 26, is accused of intentionally and with premeditation trying to kill Aaron Brown, also 26. Brown was shot once by the approximately two dozen shots fired on a Sunday morning in October 2007. He was treated and then released from the local emergency room.

White was recently returned to the Cowley County Jail from the Larned State Hospital where he was sent to be evaluated. Bond was set earlier in the proceedings at $35,000.

Ark City police for Oct. 2 through Oct. 5, 2008

Arkansas City Police Activities Thursday, Oct. 2, Friday, Oct. 3, Saturday, Oct. 4 and Sunday Oct. 5, 2008 included:

Love's was the victim of theft.

Francis Alley, Ark City, was the victim of criminal damage to property in the 100 block of E. Madison Avenue.

Winfield High, Middle schools get bomb threat

Winfield Police and local school officials are investigating a bomb threat made at the high school this morning, a school spokesperson said.

High school and middle school students have been evacuated from the area but school is expected to resume once a search is completed. It's not know how long the process might take.

Around 11 a.m. law enforcement announced that students were returning to the school from Stewart Fieldhouse.

Country Mart heist is the crime of the month

The robbery of the Country Mart grocery store in Arkansas City Sept. 21 is the Cowley County Crime Stoppers crime of the month for October.

Three armed suspects entered the store at approximately 8:45 p.m. and took money from the store safe at gun point. It is believed a fourth suspect remained with a vehicle parked behind the store at 616 N. Summit St.

Two of the suspects in the store brandished handguns while the third suspect jumped the customer service counter and removed an undetermined amount of cash from the store safe. The three robbers fled the store, ran back to their car and left the area going north. They continued driving north and east through the northeast part of town, discarding items of clothing as they made their get-a-way.

Southwestern has packed homecoming slate

Homecoming festivities will get under way Friday at Southwestern College. The school has released a schedule of events for the weekend.

Response for all the Homecoming gatherings has been very strong, school officials said.

Friday�s schedule includes:

Boy hit in head with mower part; 1 arrested

An 11-year-old Arkansas City boy was hit on the head with a lawnmower part Sunday afternoon at 412 E. Polk Ave.

The boy received four staples on the head at the local hospital, Ark City Police Chief Sean Wallace said.

James Bailey, 20, Ark City, was arrested and taken to the police department. He has extreme learning difficulties and was released in the custody of the father after consulting with District Court Judge Mike Smith and County Attorney Chris Smith, Wallace said.

Man arrested for domestic incident Sunday

David Reeme, Ark City, was arrested early Sunday morning for disorderly conduct by domestic violence, violating a protective order and obstructing the legal process.

Reeme, 25, was arrested after police were dispatched to a disturbance in the 800 block of N. Fourth Street.

Reeme resisted arrested. His probation officer was notified and he was arrested for probation violation as well as the other charges stemming from the disturbance, Ark City Police Chief Sean Wallace said.

Cowley College offering popular driver course

Cowley College is offering a driver safety course that has proven popular in the past.

The school's Golden Tigers are offering the AARP 55 Alive Driver Safety class from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 6 and Nov. 7 in Room 206 of the Webb Brown Academic Center on Cowley�s Arkansas City campus.

Anyone with a valid Kansas driver�s license may take the course.

AC police arrest man on outstanding warrants

A traffic stop Oct. 1 netted Arkansas City Police a man with two outstanding arrest warrants.

A search of the vehicle turned up drug paraphernalia an methamphetamine, Ark City Police Chief Sean Wallace said. Glenda Walker, 50, of Oklahoma City, was driving when police stopped her vehicle about 3:30 a.m. in the 600 block of S. Fourth Street.

Turns out that Walker was driving on a suspended license. Her passenger, Brett Martin, 50, of Ark City, was arrested on the outstanding warrants. Both went to the county jail.

Ark City police for Sept. 29 through Oct. 1

Arkansas City Police Activity for Monday, Sept. 29, Tuesday, Sept. 30 and Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2009 included:

A vehicle was impounded at Walnut Avenue and C Street and at 501 N. D Street.

Roxann Roth, Ark City, was arrested for a vicious dog at 1502 S. Fourth St.

Police: Bar argument led to battery early Sat.

A 40-year-old Arkansas City woman is accused of battering another woman with a bat or blunt instrument.

Debra Randol was arrested after police were dispatched to the 1100 block of W. Elm Avenue early Saturday morning. They met with the 30 year old victim who had obvious injuries, Ark City Police Chief Sean Wallace said.

The victim - also from Ark City - said Randol came to her house, attacked her, and then fled. The incident stemmed from an argument at the Red Zone Bar involving Randol's daughter and the victim, according to Wallace.

CASA apologizes for performance by Kuhn

CASA of Cowley County has issued a public apology in regard to Mell Kuhn's performance at the Men In Tights Under the Lights pageant Sept. 28.

Russ Tomevi, president of CASA's board of directors, said the organization should have been more attentive to the show's content.

It plans to review all of its practices related to the Miss CASA fund raiser to ensure that �in the future it can and will be operated without offense and in line with our high standards of community responsibility.� he said.

New type of energy plant pitched for Cowley

Municipal wastewater, trash, manure and processing waste from livestock would be turned into energy at a massive, privately-funded facility that could provide a cheap, renewable supply of power, water and bio-diesel for Cowley County, says a local businessman who has pitched the idea to the county commission.

The facility would employ up to 1,500 people who would live on site with their families. On-site restaurants would serve organic dishes made with food produced at the facility.

And developers of the project expect no funding, subsidies or tax breaks from the government.

AC police name target of bank robbery probe

There is mounting evidence that a Wichita man who was on parole for a 2003 bank robbery also robbed the Home National Bank branch in Arkansas City Sept. 17, Ark City Police Chief Sean Wallace said Friday afternoon.

Evidence was developed during the local investigation that implicated Timothy Riggins. The information was passed on to the FBI in Wichita. His parole was revoked because of the information, according to Wallace.

When federal marshals went to serve the warrant on Riggins, he ran and then assaulted marshals when he was finally captured. When he was searched, marshals found Riggins was in possession of cocaine.

Man found living in Ark City under false ID

Police believe an Arkansas City man was using the personal identification of a subject who resides in California to gain employment in this area and avoid detection from immigration authorities, according to Ark City Police Chief Sean Wallace.

Miguel Angel Ramirez was arrested Oct. 1 after Ark City police, the Cowley County Sheriff's Office, the Kansas Highway Patrol and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation conducted a search warrant at 820 S. B St. Darlene Galindo, also of Ark City, was also taken in custody.

Evidence of illegal drug use and sales was found during the search of the residence. A firearm was also located in the home.

Cowley County flood damage tops $650,000

Cowley County is one of 11 Kansas counties named in a state disaster declaration by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

Anderson, Butler, Chase, Greenwood, Harper, Harvey, Lyon, Russell, Sedgwick and Sumner counties were also affected by severe storms, heavy rains and flooding that began Sept. 11.

The flooding forced campers to evacuate the Winfield Fairground just a few days before the annual Walnut Valley Festival was to begin. The festival was able to begin on time and parking was available, but campers were not able to return.

FARLEY: I'll cut mayor Kuhn a little bit of slack

It was fairly obvious that Arkansas City Mayor Mell Kuhn was going to be pit roasted for his portrayal of Smellishis Poon at Sunday night's Men In Tights Under the Lights competition.

He issued an apology through the NAACP Thursday.

Just a day after Kuhn was named Miss CASA 2008, David A. Seaton, assistant general manager for Winfield Publishing Company, was already going on about Kuhn's choice of name and the fact that Kuhn darkened his skin.

Art in the Park festivities set for this weekend

Winfield Arts and Humanities Council�s 34th annual Art in the Park is taking place Saturday at Island Park.

The gates will open at 10am � or an hour earlier for Purchase Award patrons � and close at 5 p.m. Approximately 6,000 people are expected to attend this year�s event.

Admission for the event is a $2 donation per person or $5 a car, with children under 12 free. Parking inside the park is allowed this year. This juried show will feature over 50 artists and craftspersons, exhibiting in drawing, painting, pottery, sculpture, jewelry, home d�cor, and much more.

Ark City police for Sept. 26 through Sept. 28

Arkansas City Police Activities for Friday, Sept. 26, Saturday, Sept. 27, and Monday, Sept. 28, 2008 include:

Mario Elton and Donna Kunkel-Graham, both of Ark City, were involved in a non-injury accident in the 1500 block of N Summit Street.

Jay Smith, Ark City, was the victim of theft in the 1400 block of S. B Street.

Man convicted in Cowley case files Chapter 7

A man convicted in five Kansas counties of selling insurance to elderly residents but pocketing tens of thousands of dollars in premiums has filed for bankruptcy.

The Chapter 7 filing by Ronald Hummel of Hutchinson could release him from more than $760,000 in payments ordered in civil suits stemming from the fraud cases. The payments are part of $1.7 million in listed liabilities.

The filing indicates Hummel hopes to keep his $375,000 home.

Kuhn meets with NAACP; offers an apology

UPDATE: 10:15 a.m. Mayor Kuhn has offered an apology for his act and the name he used at the CASA pageant Sunday. He met with NAACP officials in Wichita Wednesday.

"It has been brought to my attention how offensive this was and I absolutely agree that it was shortsighted of me not to see that in the first place. I am sincerely sorry and I sincerely apologize for the offensive nature of my actions. This was not CASA, this was of my own volition, and I take full responsibility for my actions. The buck absolutely stops here." - Mayor Mel Kuhn

County prepping list of delinquent taxpayers

A list of people who owe delinquent personal property tax will be published this month in the Winfield Courier, according to Cowley County Treasurer Kathy Foust.

Personal property includes boats, trailers, mobile homes and off-road vehicles. Interest and fees will have to be paid now in addition to the original tax.

Delinquent personal property taxpayers can't buy new tags when their old tags expire until the delinquency is paid, Foust said.